We Are a Sanctuary!

November 20, 2017

On October 29, 2017, UUCB voted to become a Sanctuary Host Congregation for immigrants facing deportation, in partnership with the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition. Providing safe space for those who are victims of unjust laws is not only a legal act — for us, it is an act of faith rooted in our belief that courageous love will transform the world.

Since 2010, UUCB has used a faith-based model of action and reflection to address immigration issues in the Boulder area and beyond. The Immigration Ministry Team led us in spiritually supported education and non-violent direct actions like vigils at the ICE Detention Center. They led us in companioning local immigrant families and following their voices to advocate for immigration reform. All the while, the Immigration Ministry helped us reflect on the work: How are we being challenged and changed? How does our faith support us in the work?

Becoming a Sanctuary Congregation is a natural next step for us.

During the summer of 2017, we began a thorough discernment process that involved the entire congregation and other stakeholders. On October 29, 2017, the congregation voted (90% in favor) to approve this resolution:

We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, Colorado (UUCB), in accordance with the Seven Principles of our Unitarian Universalist Association and our mission of “Actively promoting Unitarian Universalist values here and in the wider world and sustaining these efforts through our culture of social justice and generosity”, hereby declare that when the opportunity arises UUCB will serve as a host sanctuary congregation.

We understand that, in collaboration with the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition, a host sanctuary congregation will provide an undocumented immigrant with a safe space for their body and spirit while openly resisting deportation, allowing the immigrant to retain the support of their family and community and to have a platform to publicly proclaim their prophetic message of a just and humane immigration policy. We commit to shared decision-making with the immigrant guest throughout this process.

The mariposa (monarch butterfly) freely migrates across the border between Mexico and the United States, and has become a symbol for the immigration justice movement. UUCB is a sanctuary host site for immigrants facing deportation, and is partnered with the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition.

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To directly support Ingrid and to help cover the cost of food for the family and Ingrid’s legal fees, Donate Here.

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Please Note: We are not accepting furniture or item donations. While we appreciate generosity, dropping off items at the church without prior approval is considered illegal dumping. What we need and appreciate most right now are monetary donations. Please follow the links above.